Retirement with No Problem

19th Nov – Bridge 43 to close to Blisworth, Grand Union Canal, 1 mile 0 locks

It was cold last night. I went outside to adjust the satellite dish for Vic and it was snowing…….. taking a bit of the snow tried to hand it to Vic in a clenched fist, but he was having nothing of it, thinking it was an insect.  The giveaway was when it started melting and dripping on the carpet, so unfortunately I didn’t surprise him!

Drew the curtains this morning to a wintery scene with blue skies, and nipped out on the towpath in my dressing gown to take a quick pic before the sun melted the first snow of the winter.  You know, its one of those photos that the family always want to see.  Well here you are then, you can all go ahhhhhh now!

Today has been a day of two halves…. This morning a wonderful stroll over to Rothersthorpe village where luckily the Farm Shop was open.  Rothersthorpe is a village with old and new houses.  I found it quite intimidating though, a number of the properties had high gates with intercoms, in fact most of the properties had gates and intercoms, and there was nobody around at all, it seemed to me to be a place where one keeps one to one’s self.  There is no post office anymore, nor a village store.  Not even a house named “The Old Post House” as you often find in this type of village where ‘the car’ has ousted village life.  Without these small businesses the life of a village in my opinion is killed, having said that there was a pub……… so maybe there is some life to be had there.

The farm shop though was lovely, bought some honey from their own bees, and some eggs from their own chickens.  Not one of those commercial farm shops this one.  The farmers wife had made mincemeat in jars for Christmas, loads of jams and pickles, all obviously home made, along with a selection of home made cakes.  It’s only open on a Friday and Saturday though, so a bit of luck to be in the right place at the right time.

Fishing was on the agenda in the late morning after returning to the boat, and later moved on past Gayton Junction to moor up for the evening.  While fishing NB Weyfly came past.  Well narrowboats do come past often, but this one caught my eye, or ear actually.  I was quietly fishing when I heard music, it was getting louder and louder, thought “Were on earth is that coming from?”  Next minute under the bridge came a narrowboat.  Chap had 2 and half foot pair of speakers on the back of his cruiser style, blaring out so very very loud, I did smile “Hope I didn’t scare the fish” says he, more like he scared me with all the racket!!  He is moored on the moorings just up from us, and when taking Lucy for a very late walk this evening in the half light, there was all the music blaring out again at mega volume!  Glad we moored here, the trains are quieter!

The Children in Need thread on OurShip is doing well, and it’s nearly midnight.  Two companies have contacted me and said whatever that raises they will match and send a donation! Great stuff

My internet connection has been awful this afternoon and evening so I haven’t been able to follow it much, I am just hoping I can post this blog now, although I posted a couple of bits earlier.

Not sure what to do this weekend, the trains are noisy, maybe we will go on to Blisworth tomorrow, I suppose it depends on the mobile narrowboat disco down there on Weyfly